export-japan.com's newsletter 28th February 2005 edition

Contents

Movin’ On Out – Targeting Overseas Visitors

Japan’s interest in increasing the number of tourists from abroad is recently reaching new levels. It is not just the government sponsored Visit Japan Campaign that is aiming to reach the 10million visitor mark by the year 2010, but the Japanese travel industry in general is seeing great business opportunities in attracting more visitors from outside of Japan. This is especially true in Hokkaido where 10 percent of the area’s GDP is from tourism. The recruitment of visitors such as from China and Australia for ski resort package tours, hotels, and real estate has received plenty of national media attention, that it is expected that more businesses will become interested in targeting its businesses abroad. Simultaneously, with this trend in mind, the recruiting industry is putting the spotlight on the need for more truly multilingual and multicultural workers as the new generation ideal employee.

Featured Company – Okamoto Corporation
KR Trading Co., Ltd.

Okamoto Corporation is a leading sock manufacturer in Japan supplying ten percent of the country’s socks, annually selling approximately one hundred million pairs. The company is well known for its use of high quality materials such as the Breath Fiber, Okamoto Corporation’s original modified wool, and Laulan, a unique material based on Xinjiang cotton. Offering highly trend and hygiene conscious socks that match the expectations of extremely demanding Japanese consumer standards, the company is ready to serve the overseas market with comfort and innovation. For further information, please refer to the Okamoto Corporation website or send any inquiry.

Back to Top

It’s Also About How You Sell - Fast Changing Retail Styles in Japan

Carrefour’s recent failure in its abilities to fully grasp the Japanese market was not just due to its short comings in management but due to the Japanese populace’s decline in interest for its General Merchandise Stores (GMS) retail format where the hypermart’s only selling point was its one-stop convenience. Retail styles change as fast as product trends in Japan and the recent focus is on large shopping malls targeting families in the suburbs and catalog sales. The Diamond City mall in the suburbs of Saitama prefecture for instance is gaining popularity for its family friendly layout starting with its carpeted floors and play areas, and for its exceptionally consumer conscious tenant stores. It is not rare that store layouts or displays change twice a day where in the daytime stores display products targeting mothers who come with their children for a stroll, and in the afternoon for the working women that come by after work. Apart from the traditional brick and mortar retail style, catalog internet sales are growing. These catalogs found at local convenience stores and bookstores do not just list products but incorporate them into articles making it more similar to a magazine, marketing the products more as lifestyle solutions. Catalog features range from designer clothing and interior, organic slow life lifestyle goods, and regional handmade products.

Back to Top

Who are export-japan.com?

At export-japan.com we help build successful business relationships between Japanese companies and like-minded companies all over the world. We can help you do business with Japanese companies.

Back to Top

Become a full member (It's free)

Most people know that being successful in business is dependant on building relationships. Companies with strong relationships are better equipped to cope with lean times and the better prepared for upturns. Subscribing to the newsletter you can get vital info. Being a full member you can go one step further and start using this info to build partnerships. After you sign up you can post your company information and business offers to the Japanese side of the site. Japanese companies regularly check and search this information for companies they can do business with. We have over 4000 members, one of those could be your next partner helping you grow or enter into a previously inaccessible market.

And the process to become a full member is simple. It is free and will take you less than 5 minutes. Become a member, Start making partnerships, enjoy the success. Join Now

Back to Top

Subscribe

have the latest news, views and info delivered straight to you!
enter your email address below and click subscribe

Back to Top